Assata Shakur Dies at 78 in Cuba; Her 1998 Letter to the Pope Calls for Justice

Assata Shakur, a prominent Black liberation activist and former member of the Black Panther Party, died on September 25, 2025 at age 78 in Havana, Cuba. An icon of 1970s-era Black resistance, Shakur had spent over four decades in exile after escaping U.S. custody. Her passing in Cuba – where she was granted political asylum in 1984 – brings renewed attention to her life story: from community organizer and Black Liberation Army member to fugitive and vocal advocate. Among her most remembered acts is a 1998 open letter to Pope John Paul II (written during the Pope’s visit to Cuba) in which Shakur questioned the U.S. justice system’s treatment of Black activists. Her words, and the legacy she leaves, continue to resonate in discussions about justice, peace, and the fight against hate in America. In her memory, readers are encouraged to support the Pledge4Peace “No Hate in the US” campaign, which invites Americans to vote on practical solutions to end hate and discrimination.

Background: From Black Panther to Exile

Born JoAnne Deborah Byron in 1947 in New York and raised in North Carolina, Assata Shakur became active in the civil rights and Black liberation movements of the 1960s and 1970s. She joined the Black Panther Party and later the Black Liberation Army (BLA), groups that advocated armed self-defense and community organizing against racist oppression. In 1977 Shakur was convicted of murdering New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster during a 1973 shootout. Shakur always denied firing the fatal shot, calling her trial a “legal lynching”, and her supporters argued the prosecution was tainted by racism. Sentenced to life in prison, she was broken out of the Clinton Correctional Facility in 1979 by BLA members posing as visitors, and she fled to Cuba. In Cuba, Fidel Castro’s government granted her political asylum – a move that has been a point of tension between the U.S. and Cuba for decades. Cuban officials later reported her death on September 25 due to “health conditions and advanced age,” and her daughter confirmed that her mother passed peacefully around 1:15 pm that day.

The 1998 Open Letter to Pope John Paul II

One of the most striking moments in Shakur’s exile was her 1998 open letter to Pope John Paul II. During the Pope’s visit to Cuba, New Jersey State Police had written the Pope asking him to intervene in her extradition. In response, Shakur wrote directly to the pontiff, beginning by noting how rare it was for her to address him: “I must confess that it had never occurred to me before to write you…”. In the letter (later aired by Democracy Now!), Shakur detailed the hardships she suffered in U.S. custody – including prolonged solitary confinement, beatings, and what she called a racially biased trial. She challenged the very notion of “justice” being demanded by law enforcement, asking pointedly: “Is torture justice? I was kept in solitary confinement for more than two years… Is that justice?”. She emphasized that her case was part of a broader struggle:

“Let me emphasize that justice for me is not the issue I am addressing here; it is justice for my people that is at stake. When my people receive justice, I am sure that I will receive it, too.”

Invoking the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. (it was King’s birthday when she wrote), Shakur called on the Pope to “continue to work and pray to end oppression and political repression.” She concluded with a universal vision: “It is my heartfelt belief that all the people on this earth deserve justice… I believe it is the only way we will ever achieve peace and prosperity on this earth.” In this letter, Shakur’s tone was calm but fiery – she asked nothing for herself, only that an influential moral leader speak out against what she described as human rights violations in the United States. The letter circulated widely and has been cited by activists as a powerful plea for empathy and change.

Legacy and Impact

Assata Shakur’s life remains deeply polarizing. To U.S. authorities, she was a convicted cop-killer and fugitive; she was added to the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” list in 2013 (the first woman ever to appear on it). New Jersey officials who lost a trooper in the 1973 shootout denounced Cuba’s refusal to extradite her, saying she had never been “held fully accountable” for her actions. However, among many communities she became a symbol of resistance. Her 1987 autobiography Assata and its motto (“We have nothing to lose but our chains”) became rallying cries during the Black Lives Matter movement. Civil rights advocates remember Shakur as an activist who “advocated self-determination for my people” and “loving each other and supporting each other” as the key to freedom.

Cultural figures have also cited her influence. Late rapper Tupac Shakur (her godson) often referred to her in his music, and hip-hop artists like Public Enemy and Common have written songs and poetry about her story. In short, while opponents vilified her as a criminal, her supporters praised her as a fighter against systemic racism and state violence. Even at the time of her death, organizations like Black Lives Matter Grassroots vowed to “fight in her honor and memory”. Her passing sparked tributes and debates across social media and news outlets – some highlighting her calls for justice and others her crime – but many noted that her life prompts important questions about how societies pursue justice and deal with conflict.

Advancing Peace: The “No Hate in the US” Campaign

Assata Shakur’s message – that justice for the oppressed is a prerequisite for peace – has clear relevance today. In her final public words, she linked justice to peace, writing that only when all people receive justice can there be peace on earth. This connection is at the heart of modern peace-building efforts. One such effort is the Pledge4Peace “No Hate in the United States” campaign. Pledge4Peace is a citizen-driven platform where people vote on policy solutions to global issues. The No Hate campaign specifically focuses on eliminating discrimination and protecting civil rights in America. It tackles the rising tide of hate crimes, racial and religious discrimination, and other forms of bigotry by proposing actionable solutions – from education programs to law enforcement reforms – and asking citizens to vote on them.

Readers can draw a clear line from Shakur’s appeals to end oppression to the aims of this campaign. For example, Shakur’s 1998 letter challenged systems she saw as unjust; the No Hate campaign challenges the current systems that allow hate and intolerance to spread. By involving citizens in a democratic voting process, it seeks to answer Shakur’s call for collective action against human rights abuses. In the words of Pledge4Peace, Americans are invited to “vote on actionable solutions… to contribute to a more inclusive and peaceful American society.” The campaign website explicitly frames “No Hate” as a movement to uphold dignity, solidarity, and democracy. Supporters can propose solutions like enhanced bias training, community policing reforms, or anti-discrimination legislation – all aimed at reducing fear and division.

Honoring Assata Shakur’s legacy means continuing the struggle for justice through peaceful, collective means. We encourage readers to participate in the No Hate campaign by visiting the Pledge4Peace website and voting on proposed solutions that reflect our shared values of equality and humanity. By visiting pledge4peace.org/campaigns/no-hate-in-the-united-states, you can help shape policies that combat hate and build bridges between communities. In the spirit of Shakur’s final appeal for justice and peace, let us stand together to eliminate hate in America. Only through solidarity and civic engagement can we hope to “achieve peace and prosperity” for all, as she believed was possible.